Jimmies pounce on Glenn miscues

June 02, 2007|AL LESAR Tribune Staff Writer

LAKEVILLE -- Yielding 10 "free bases" doomed Glenn's baseball team in its 6-0 Class 2-A sectional championship loss to Jimtown Friday. "It just wasn't our day today," Falcon coach John Nadolny said. He was stating the obvious. Nadolny describes "free bases" as walks, hit-batsmen and errors. Glenn pitchers gave up five walks, hit one batter and the Falcons (20-11) had four errors. None of Jimtown's runs were earned. Quite a recipe for disaster. "Those extra outs, freebies, murdered us," Nadolny said. "We gave away too many extra outs." After two marvelous sectional victories, it was just about time for a clunker. The Jimmies (20-9), losers to the Falcons twice during the Northern State Conference season, did their part to make the frustration happen. Pitcher Jason Crocker was effective and efficient. He allowed just four baserunners -- three hits and a walk -- and one was erased in a double play. Having a 3-0 lead before Glenn came to bat didn't hurt Crocker's effort. "Getting that lead took a lot of pressure off," Crocker said. "I just got ahead in the count and let 'em hit it. I had faith in my defense." Jimtown's big first inning was made possible by a two-out error by Glenn second baseman Tommy Buysse. Not only did the fielding miscue allow the first run to score, but it gave Ryan Herring an at-bat. Herring delivered a two-run single off loser Darek Morris. Another Buysse boot in the fourth opened the door for Nate Klosinski to score Jimtown's fourth run. A ground ball under the glove of Glenn first baseman Brian Bogard was pivotal in Jimtown's final two runs in the seventh. "Bogard is going to finish second all-time in the state defensively for first basemen, combining his put-outs and assists," Nadolny said. "He never lets a ball go under his glove." "It seems like 27 years (since the Jimmies had won a sectional)," said Jimtown coach Mike Stout, whose club won its first title since 2000. "We knew we had to score some runs early. (Glenn) helped a little, but we made some big plays." One of the more unique plays happened in Glenn's first inning. With two out, Falcon Brady Solmos hit a ground ball to Jimtown third baseman Taylor Dodds. Dodds bounced his throw to first and it went past J.J. Dubois. Solmos rounded first and jogged into second. However, Jimtown appealed at first base and umpire Jeff Hull called Solmos out, saying he never touched the base. "One of the dads in the stands told us (Solmos missed the base)," Stout said. "That's just the kind of day it was for us," Nadolny said with a shrug. Bogard, who would have followed Solmos but instead led off the second, drilled a line drive single to left field that would have scored a runner from second. Jimtown will play its regional game Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Churubusco. For Glenn, it was the Falcons' final game in Class 2-A -- at least for the next four years. They will join the Class 3-A sectional at Plymouth next season. Jimtown3001002 -- 680Glenn0000000 -- 034Jason Crocker (W) and Kevin Kelley; Darek Morris (L), Michael Fansler (7) and Adam Fisher. 2B: J.J. Dubois (J). Umpires: P-Scott Sanchez; 1st-Jeff Hull; 3rd-Jay Miller.